Victims of sexual abuse should always have the ability to pursue compensation and justice from their abusers through the civil courts in New York. Unfortunately, many abuse victims have been unable to pursue justice due to statutes of limitations in place in these cases. However, the Child Victims Act changed this to allow for abuse victims to file lawsuits against their abusers in New York regardless of how long ago the alleged abuse took place. This law had a “lookback” window that allowed abuse victims to file lawsuits, but this window was set to expire on August 14, 2020.
New York City sexual abuse attorneys at Soloff & Zervanos, P.C., want to discuss the orders signed by NY Governor Cuomo that have extended this lookback window.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Cuomo signed legislation in May that extended the lookback window for victims of child sexual abuse from August 14, 2020, to January 14, 2021. However, as the coronavirus pandemic has stretched onward, it quickly became apparent that this lookback period should be extended even farther.
Gov. Cuomo has now signed legislation that extends the special filing period by a full year. Claims can now be filed under the Child Victims Act until August 14, 2021. In a statement acknowledging the need for this extension, Gov. Cuomo said, “The Child Victims Act brought a long-needed pathway to justice for people who were abused and helps right wrongs that went unacknowledged and unpunished for far too long and we cannot let this pandemic limit the ability for survivors to have their day in court.”
For those who are not entirely aware of weather Child Victims Act was designed to do, here are some of the general highlights:
Over the last few years, there has been a significant focus on victims of child sexual abuse and the effects that this abuse can have on a person throughout their lifetime. Corrective measures, such as the Child Victims Act, are meant to address some of these concerns and give victims a path forward to obtain some sort of justice for what happened to them.
If you or somebody you love has been the victim of abuse, please speak to an attorney about your case as soon as possible. At Soloff & Zervanos, P.C., we are dedicated to helping abuse survivors secure the compensation and justice they need to get through this. This could include monetary compensation for pain and suffering, as well as coverage for any counseling necessary. We will even work to secure punitive damages against the alleged abuser and anybody who covered up the abuse. When you need a New York City sexual abuse attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at 866-597-8572.